a blog of questions, comments and quotes...inspired by this challenge: You see things; and you say, 'Why?'
But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?" -George Bernard Shaw

Thursday, March 15, 2007

God Have Mercy On Us All

Romans 11 is the concluding chapter of Paul's doctrinal exposition. His letter to Christian house churches in Rome is meant to outline his preaching points for his mission to Iberia, to explain his core doctrines as well as do a little educating to his new sponsers. It's a brilliant book, which means that it may not make sense in the first reading...or the second or the third. Which is one reason why Paul ends this chapter and this section with burst of poetic genius:

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,and his paths byeond tracing out!

Who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor?

Who has ever given to God,that God should repay them?

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever!

Amen."

The immediate context of his letter that prompts this moving prayer is his explanation about Israel's role in the gospel coming to the Gentiles (nonJews). He starts the chapter by referencing 1Kings and quoting Deuteronomy and Isaiah, noting that just when it seems that Israel was abandoned, God revealed that he had chosen a remnant (by grace) who would worship Him, and that there were those whom he had hardened their hearts and darkened their eyes (this is a hard teaching to accept...Luther contends that only very mature believers should delve into this doctrine).

But Paul doesn't stop there, he goes on to use the metaphor of an olive tree to explain how the Gentiles and Jews are bound together. The disobedience of the Jews has resulted in salvation for the Gentiles. Paul makes much of this fact, he even says that he hopes that all these Gentiles getting delivered elicits envy out of the Jews, and that this will provoke them to obedience and salvation. (I'll never forget the first time I read this passage or heard it preached on, it was with Dennis Miller, sitting in the olive grove outside Jerusalem, in the area where Jesus was alleged to have been crucified and buried...a powerful moment).

But Paul doesn't stop there also, he writes that the Jews will have hardened hearts until the full number of Gentiles "has come in." And then he says that through this, all Israel will be saved. What? He ends this section with this phrase: "For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." Who is he talking about? He just opened the chapter by describing the elect/chosen status of a remnant and the damned. Now he is saying that all will receive mercy?

Rather than expanding on that even more, he breaks into his poetic prayer.

Without delving in too deep, I think that Paul is attempting to do at least two things (he is writing to a Jewish Christian and Gentile Christian church): affirm the Jewish Christians their special place in God's will and work, to help the Gentile Christians see their place in God's will and work (hence the use of the olive tree). Paul also wants to highlight the role of grace/mercy in the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles. For the reason of why some people just won't respond to God's grace/mercy, Paul uses the language of "hardened, darkened, etc." Some people just won't let themselves be redeemed. But for those who do, we can all sing together Paul's eloquent doxology.

1 comment:

Bob postiff
said...

Hi Tim, I saw your comment on the Jesus Creed. My work with 12-step groups, focus on the confession and addmission of sin. I think that is very healing and also the sin doesn't go unrecognized and underground to resurface in destructive ways. There is a need to be honest about ourselves to each other "Confess your sins to one another" in James. Power seems to be a big issue in the Evangelical churches. But I wouldn't trade my evangelicalism for anything else.

I think RCs include a wide range of people over the spectrum of belief likeTransubstantion---------symbolicLife issues----------social justiceMale priesthood---------married and women priestsNatural family planing---------------contraceptionPapal infallability---------------------pope a good manJohn Paul 2 -----------------------Hans KungThey maybe are able to embrace a large group with different beliefs. Because no one really knows what the boundaries are.

I've noticed you read Barth's book on Romans, very poetic.The interpretation of Romans is becoming a litmus test for EC and others.Racial gentile Jew -- ECpersonal morality and law-- evangelical. I'm always trying to teach NT Wright's way of looking at things to my evagelical small group.

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About Me

I married Tara in 1995 - a wonderful wife; we have four fun children. I lived in Ontario, Canada for over a decade as a kid, graduated from Huntington College (where I met my wife), and I hope to travel to every continent on earth with my wife and kids. I lead and teach at Anchor Community Church, a great group of people who work to make the neighborhood a better place to live.

theological worldview

You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this.